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I'm happy to report that on Tuesday, the Board unanimously approved my Board Matter that renames our district to Franconia District. The change is effective immediately.
Over the next few weeks, Fairfax County and my office will be updating our website, signage, and other materials to reflect this change.
It is an honor to represent you as your Franconia District Supervisor.
Watch my Full Board Matter Remarks Below
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Also, the Fourth of July would not be the same without fireworks. However, when fireworks are not properly and safely used, tragedy can strike within seconds. Please follow the following safety tips when using permissible fireworks:
- Keep all bystanders at least 25 feet away from fireworks.
- While using permissible fireworks, minors should be supervised by a parent or legal guardian. Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks.
- Parents often do not realize there are more injuries from sparklers to children under five than from any other type of fireworks. Sparklers burn at temperatures of about 1,200 degrees, which is hot enough to melt some metals.
- If you would like to dispose of any illegal (without penalty) or unwanted consumer fireworks, contact the county's fire marshal at 703-246-4849.
More safety tips can be found here:
https://ffxfirerescue.wordpress.com/2022/06/27/fireworks-safety-6/?fbclid=IwAR22kjHDAghOzGm7lmCljRDofnQPUlaWGGRmPTrUlvaYkcOlJN6OzMrVBIs
Fairfax County Government offices will be closed Monday, July 4, for the Independence Day holiday. Some facilities are open, but schedules may vary.
For specific schedule information: http://ow.ly/6gYa50JKF0Y
Have a safe and fun fourth of July Weekend!
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It is an honor to represent you as your Franconia District Supervisor.
Please contact my office if we can assist you:
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Email: leedist@fairfaxcounty.gov (My team is working on an updated email)
Phone 703-971-6262
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- Statement on the Springfield Town Center Officer-Involved Shooting
- Supervisor Lusk in the News
- Supervisor Lusk in the Community
- Notable New State Laws Effective Today
- Virtual Mental Wellness Consultations Available this Summer for FCPS Students
- School Bus Driver Employment Opportunities
- Fairfax County to Roll Out Early Seed Capital Fund
- Fairfax County Cooling Program
- Drinking Water and Wastewater Professionals Day
- COVID-19 Resources
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Statement on the Springfield Town Center Officer-Involved Shooting | |
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Yesterday Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) officers attempted to arrest a fugitive with active warrants at the Springfield Town Center parking lot. As we currently understand the situation, the man was armed with a firearm and failed to comply with at least twenty orders from police to drop his weapon. Unfortunately, the officers were eventually left with no other option than to use deadly force to protect themselves and nearby bystanders.
I am thankful for our FCPD officers who keep our community safe. As part of FCPD's standard protocol, whenever deadly force is used, the Department will be undertaking a thorough internal investigation, the results of which will be made available to the community. I am grateful that no officers or bystanders were hurt, and as the investigation continues, I will share information with the community as it becomes available.
In the coming days, I plan to announce the date for a public safety town hall with Chief Davis, where community members will have the opportunity to have an open discussion on crime in our district as well as the wider region.
More information: https://fcpdnews.wordpress.com/2022/07/01/officer-involved-shooting-in-springfield-town-center-parking-lot/
Chief Davis's press conference on the incident: https://fb.watch/d-44kyuZVd/
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Supervisor Lusk in the News | |
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Fairfax changes Lee magisterial district to Franconia
By Antonio Olivo of the Washington Post
https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2022/06/28/fairfax-rename-lee-district-franconia/
In a unanimous vote, the 10-member county board approved a measure to change the name of the district honoring Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee to Franconia, reflecting the Franconia neighborhood that makes up a large portion of the area.
“It’s a name that makes sense, it’s a name that our community has embraced, and it’s a name that memorializes a place and not a person,” Supervisor Rodney L. Lusk (D-Franconia), who represents the area, said before introducing the measure.
“I’m just grateful to be serving at this time and to be a part of this particular action,” said Lusk, the board’s only African American.
Panel: Some workplace shifts will be permanent
By Brian Trompeter Sun Gazette Newspapers
https://www.insidenova.com/news/fairfax/panel-some-workplace-shifts-will-be-permanent/article_97146c26-f632-11ec-bea4-d30903a94d7b.html
The pandemic proved a proverbial baptism by fire for Fairfax County Board of Supervisors member Rodney Lusk (D-Franconia). Lusk, who was elected in 2019, recounted how shortly after he began his four-year term in January 2020, supervisors got their first look at a proposed budget that would fund many of their priorities.
But the onset of the pandemic that March forced the board to put those aspirations on hold, go with a more austere budget and navigate a wholly new dynamic. The county adapted by providing computers so that many of its 12,000 employees could work from home.
The highest COVID impacts were in the county’s public-facing, in-person fields of public safety and sanitation, and officials struggled to maintain minimum required staffing, he said.
“We had vacancies of up to 20 percent,” Lusk said. “We had to become a little more creative.”
The highest COVID impacts were in the county’s public-facing, in-person fields of public safety and sanitation, and officials struggled to maintain minimum required staffing, he said.
Lusk developed a workforce-development center along that corridor to bolster those workers’ job and wage prospects. The center is due to open in July, but already has found work for five people at $21 per hour, up from their previous $14, he said.
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Supervisor Lusk in the Community | |
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I rang the opening bell at the Kingstowne Farmers market and purchased some fresh produce.
The Kingstowne Famers Market, located at 5870 Kingstowne Center, Alexandria, is open every Friday until October 28th, from 3 PM to 7 PM.
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I joined my new friends at All Rice Thai in Alexandria for their ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Support this local business and enjoy delicious food! 7001L Manchester Blvd, Alexandria, VA.
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Thank you to Village Hardware, who donated proceeds from rounding up purchases throughout the month of May to the Workforce Innovation Skills Hub.
With your generous customers and corporate matching by Aubuchon Hardware, The W.I.S.H received $2,600!
Special thanks to Manager, Angie Head and “Grill Master”, Jim Carmalt for inviting me to their customer appreciation day to receive the check.
Coming together to offer workforce training and job placement will make our community better for all.
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Thank you to Sherly Sims, Todi Carnes, and Charlotte Brown of the Friends of Historic Huntley for stopping by my office and loaning me your beautiful quilt for our office! | |
Notable New State Laws Effective Today | |
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Several new laws are in effect in Virginia and in Fairfax County beginning July 1st. This year's laws impact school safety, the environment, vehicles, parking, taxes, and community engagement.
Examples of new laws include:
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Loud Vehicle Exhaust Systems: this new law changes some offenses related to loud vehicle exhaust systems to primary offenses, and provides changes to the previous language that prohibited law enforcement officers from stopping vehicles that violated local ordinances unless it was a jailable offense. Learn more from our Police Department. (HB 632)
- Parking vehicles not capable of receiving an electric charge in a space clearly marked for charging electric vehicles is now prohibited, and subject to a civil penalty of not more than $25. (HB 450)
- Localities may now request that the state conduct at least one public meeting in a location to solicit public input during the planning phase of a project, providing additional options for improved public participation. (HB 437)
More information: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/news/notable-new-state-laws-effective-july-1-2022
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Virtual Mental Wellness Consultations Available this Summer for FCPS Students |  | |
The Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Office of Intervention and Prevention Services will offer virtual mental wellness consultations this summer from June 21 through August 5. Any Fairfax County parent may request a consultation with a school psychologist or school social worker. Consultations are up to 45-minutes in length and may occur by phone or video conferencing.
There are two types of consultations offered:
- Directly to parents of students in any grade level. This consultation provides an opportunity for parents to receive guidance on how to support their child’s social-emotional, behavioral, or academic functioning. Information about community resources will also be made available.
- Directly to students in middle or high school. This consultation provides support and strategies to students who may be experiencing difficulties with anxiety, mood, behavior, or peer or family interactions; as well as academic challenges such as organization, time-management, or transitions and changes related to school.
We encourage parents to take advantage of this service.
Request a consultation:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd2sCxLWBN8p4UFKQ8X5PBQyxC5dtIGEgu-NyNtwD6Nqb5k0A/viewform
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School Bus Driver Employment Opportunities | |
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Attend One of the In-Person School Bus Driver Job Fairs!
Join FCPS for one of their school bus driver job fairs this summer and be part of the team! They will be hosting school bus driver job fairs from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. on the following dates and locations:
All job fair events will be held from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. No advanced registration is needed.
Learn more about our upcoming school bus driver job fairs: https://www.fcps.edu/news/school-bus-driver-job-fairs
This is a great opportunity for stay-at-home parents to earn income with benefits (and bring your preschooler to work with you!), as well as for retirees, college students, or career-switchers.
Competitive Pay
- School Bus Driver - $23.83 per hour
- School Bus Attendant - $16.85 per hour
- Transportation Van Driver - $17.79 per hour
- View our salary scales
- Drivers are eligible for annual step increases plus market scale adjustments based upon School Board approval. The top of the scale is more than $31.00 an hour, plus benefits
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Fairfax County to Roll Out Early Seed Capital Fund | |
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Fairfax County to Roll Out Early Seed Capital Fund
Fairfax Founders Fund will provide early capital to startup companies in Fairfax County. The fund will target early-stage technology companies with technical assistance grants of up to $50,000 to help them prepare for later-stage investments.
Fairfax County expects the fund will bolster economic development by growing local innovation-based businesses. It will also foster the startup ecosystem by connecting young businesses with funding, local programs, and partners. Recipients will be able to use the resources for commercialization and market entry, including but not limited to prototype development, market intelligence, or technology validation. The county will allocate $1,000,000 from its Economic Opportunity Reserve Fund to capitalize the pilot program.
Potential funding recipients include companies located in Fairfax County who market an early stage, high growth product or service that has potential for future institutional investment. Applicants must provide a 50% match, which can be in capital or ‘sweat equity’, and provide progress reports over a 5-year timeframe.
Targeted outreach will focus on recruiting women, people of color, veterans, and other underrepresented groups in the technology-based business community. Studies by the Kaufman Foundation have shown that although diverse teams create more profitable companies, women, Latinx, and Black populations are underrepresented as start-up executives. As part of its commitment to “One Fairfax” the county is focused on promoting this program to diverse groups.
Rollout is expected in 3rd quarter and more information, including how to apply, will on the Fairfax County website at that time.
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Drinking Water and Wastewater Professionals Day
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Happy Drinking Water and Wastewater Professionals Day to the over 475 employees at Fairfax Water!
Thank you for maintaining the 4,027 miles of water mains and ensuring clean water for all Fairfax County residents.
https://www.fairfaxwater.org/
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Fairfax County COVID-19 Resources | |
COVID-19:
Contact our Health Department COVID-19 Call Center during business hours Monday-Friday at 703-267-3511.
Text FFXCOVID to 888777 to receive updates from Fairfax County about COVID-19; text FFXCOVIDESP to 888777 for updates in Spanish.
Email questions or concerns to ffxcovid@fairfaxcounty.gov. This email account will be staffed Monday through Friday, 8 am-4:30 pm.
For regular updates, continue to follow the following trusted sources:
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Rodney L. Lusk
Franconia District Supervisor
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